X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

DFS Strategy Analysis: How to Approach Salary Cap Leagues, Part 2

Andrew Friedman

Click here to read strategy on fantasy baseball daily leagues and analysis on how to play daily salary cap leagues at Fanduel

The Three Main Strategies

When playing salary cap leagues, it is important to have a strategy in mind. Depending on the day, it will be better to have a balanced approach rather than a lineup full of studs and scrubs.

On other days, there will be a slew of slumping sluggers available for cheap because of their recent struggles. The question is, should you pick them and hope they bust out of the slump or run for the hills from their cold bat?

Here are the three main strategies the pro daily fantasy players consider when filling out their teams.

 

1. Studs and Scrubs - A popular approach by many fantasy experts in daily salary cap leagues is called the Studs and Scrubs approach. Basically, you spend the majority of your salary cap on a couple pricey, but reliable, “studs”. The rest is evenly distributed on “scrubs” whose production will just be a bonus. This can be incredibly effective if you know which scrubs to take, but most people don’t. If you decide to play in non double-up leagues, you will want to use this approach because it is your best chance to have a fantasy explosion. Example: All your stars play incredibly well and your scrubs each collect a couple hits. Playing this way at first is reckless and winning is unlikely, so stick with the double-up leagues until you are feeling more comfortable to try the riskier leagues. Read our daily columns to find out who the best valued scrubs are for each day.

2. Balanced Approach - The safest bet for production is using a balanced approach. Whenever I use this approach I finish in the 35-60 range. So while it won’t always help you double-up, you usually will win with the right lineup. You may add one “star” but for the most part you’ll fill out your lineup with the likes of Alex Rios instead of Carlos Gonzales or AJ Pierzynski instead of Buster Posey. But the nice part is that you have players that will pick up the slack for the others. In a stars and scrubs lineup, you need the stars to perform well. If two of your stars struggle, you’ll likely lose. The balanced approach is best for beginners. So start slow and use a balanced approach. We will give you some players that qualify for this approach every day in our articles.

3. Stock Market Approach - My most commonly used strategy I’ve decided to name the "stock market" approach. What do I mean by this? Four words: but low, sell high.  It doesn't make sense to trade for a player when his value is peaking. But it DOES make sense to trade for a slumping star with potential to bust out. Fanduel’s algorithm (what controls player values) is based on recent performances. Player A might have a rough homestand (1-12, 0 HRs, 1 BB, 0 RBI) and watch his stock fall dramatically before the next home game. Player B may have an awesome homestand (6-14, 2 HRs, 7 RBI). Player A is Albert Pujols, Player B is Ike Davis. And because of their recent performances, Davis now costs more than Pujols. But I would much rather have Pujols than Davis, regardless of recent performance. This strategy has worked out incredibly well for me in the past and our daily fantasy articles will include these players who have seen their stock fall.

Last few bonus tips:

  • Pick the players you want before even looking at the salary cap. Once you have filled out your roster, look to see if you are over or under the limit. If over, keep the players you really want and adjust those you aren’t confident playing.
  • Don’t worry about spending the whole salary cap. Just because you can spend so much on players doesn’t mean you have to. I had a buddy who thought he would win because he filled out a “perfect” roster that used every penny of the salary cap. He lost big because his “perfect” lineup had multiple players with awful matchups. Don’t be a salary slave, avoid the obsession with the salary cap. It’s a limit, not a requirement.
  • Make sure you’re lineup doesn’t have injured players. Google search MLB injury report to make sure you don’t lose because you have a virtual empty roster spot.
  • Sometimes players get days off for rest. Usually we will know about it the day before or on the morning of gameday. It’s just another reason to check with us before setting your lineup.

Feel free to send me your daily lineup questions on twitter at @RotoCole.

If you missed Part 1 of RotoBaller.com's Daily League Analysis: How to Approach Salary Cap Leagues, it's right here.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

DJ Moore

Bears Experimenting with DJ Moore in Backfield
Rome Odunze

Could Move All Around the Offense
NFL

Dave Canales Comfortable With Panthers' Young Receivers
Quinshon Judkins

Not Considering NCAA Return
Dallas Goedert

Healthy for Week 1
Marvin Mims Jr.

Returns to Practice Monday
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Carted Off Monday With Knee Injury
Jason Adam

Diagnosed With Ruptured Left Quadriceps Tendon
Victor Wembanyama

Looking "Quite Stellar"
Fernando Tatis Jr.

Scratched on Monday
Matthew Stafford

Expected to Start in Week 1
Edward Cabrera

Heading to Injured List With Elbow Sprain
Najee Harris

Cleared for Contact, Could Play in Week 1
Denny Hamlin

Ends Eventful Day at Darlington in Seventh Place
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Almost Earns a Top-Five Finish at Darlington
John Hunter Nemechek

has His Best 2025 Performance at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

Has An Underwhelming Performance At Darlington
Josh Berry

Crashes Early and Suffers A Playoff Setback at Darlington
Harry Ford

Called Up for Major-League Debut
Victor Scott II

Activated From Injured List
Fernando Tatis Jr.

Dealing With Hamstring Tightness, Expects to Play Monday
Giannis Antetokounmpo

"Staying in Milwaukee"
Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Agrees to a One-Year Contract with Milwaukee
Kyrie Irving

"Healing Up Great"
Dante Exum

Mavs Agree on a One-Year Deal
Jaylen Warren

Agrees to Two-Year Extension With Steelers
De'Von Achane

Practicing Monday, on Track to Play in Week 1
Quinshon Judkins

Could Report to Browns This Week
Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs, Trent McDuffie Not Expected to Finalize Extension
Chase Elliott

Under Playoff Pressure After 17th-Place Darlington Finish
Kyle Larson

Despite Hendrick Mediocrity, Kyle Larson Remains Pretty Safe in Playoffs
Alex Bowman

Opening-Lap Crash and Botched Pit Stop May Have Sunk Alex Bowman's Playoff Hopes
Erik Jones

Darlington Master Erik Jones Comes Up Short but Still Finishes Third
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Impresses at Southern 500
Dameon Pierce

Ahead of Schedule, Ready for Season
Jordan Love

May Wear Thumb Brace During Season
Chicago Bears

Bears Head Coach Admits Offense Could Face Learning Curve
Matt Chapman

Leaves Early on Sunday, Expects to Play Monday
A.J. Brown

Says He'll Be Active For Season Opener
Luis Garcia

to Make Season Debut on Monday
Max Scherzer

Exits Due to Back Tightness
Taylor Ward

Exits Early After Collison
Braelon Allen

Says He Has a Lot Left to Prove
Sal Stewart

Reds Promoting Sal Stewart to Majors
Daniel Suarez

is A DFS Risk for Darlington Lineups?
Randy Rodríguez

Randy Rodriguez to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Noah Gragson

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Noah Gragson for Darlington?
Ty Dillon

is an Excellent Punt Option for Darlington DFS Lineups
Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanovic to Miss the Rest of EuroBasket
Denny Hamlin

Picking Up Where He Left Off At Darlington
Kyle Larson

The Sky Is The Limit for Kyle Larson at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

a Strong DFS Play at Darlington This Weekend
Tyler Reddick

Shouldn't Be Overlooked at Darlington This Weekend
Alex Bowman

An Easy Place-Differential Play in DFS This Weekend
Ty Gibbs

Could Be Strong at Darlington This Weekend
Erik Jones

Has Best Darlington Qualifying Effort Since Last Win
Zane Smith

Hopeful For Another Solid Run At Darlington
Aroldis Chapman

Agrees to Contract Extension
Juan Soto

Homers Twice in Loss
Nick Kurtz

Avoids Serious Injury
MacKenzie Gore

Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Reaches 25-Homer, 25-Steal Milestone
Chris Sale

Activated on Saturday
Dansby Swanson

Homers Twice, Drives in Six in Win
Nick Kurtz

Leaves Game With Oblique Soreness
Joe Burrow

Bengals Feel Joe Burrow Just had "the Best Training Camp of his Career"
Dallas Mavericks

Olivier-Maxence Prosper Waived by the Mavs
Lauri Markkanen

Dominant in Win Over Great Britain
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Leads Serbia to a Win
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Shines Versus Portugal
De'Von Achane

Should be Ready for Week 1
Jose Alvarado

"Good" After Recent Fall
Green Bay Packers

Packers Acquire Micah Parsons, Sign him to Four-Year Extension
Jauan Jennings

Remains Sidelined at Practice
Lauri Markkanen

Torches Sweden
Neemias Queta

Dominates in EuroBasket Opener
Kawhi Leonard

Clippers Not Allowing Kawhi Leonard to Play Back-to-Backs
Dallas Mavericks

Mavericks Looking to Trade Olivier-Maxence Prosper
Tyrese Haliburton

Expects to Return in 15 Months
Terance Mann

Confident About Having a Big Year in Brooklyn
Zaccharie Risacher

Aims to Improve Ball-Handling Skills
NBA

Pistons And Timberwolves Join Race for Malik Beasley
John Tonje

Signs Two-Way Deal With Jazz
Max Strus

to Miss 3-4 Months After Surgery

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP